Sunday, May 26, 2013

How the Book of Mormon Can Change A Life

[My last talk given in my ward before I left on my mission]

May 26, 2013

It is so wonderful to see so many friends and family members
here this day. Many of you know I have been called to serve a full time mission
in Manchester, England. My mission area is a beautiful and historic part of the
world. It encompasses the northwest of England from the Scottish border and
drops all the way down into North Wales and includes the Isle of Man. I feel
very blessed to be serving here considering that my family roots run deep
within the area surrounding Manchester. I can’t wait to go to the land of my
forefathers and invite all to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon has been called the Keystone of our
Religion. With all the Book of Mormon has to offer mankind it may well be known
as the most remarkable and important religious text ever given to the world. It
testifies to the world that when men and nations walk in the fear of God while
obeying his commandments, they prosper and grow. If they disregard Him and His
word, there comes decay that, unless stopped by righteousness, leads to
impotence and death.

Prophets Testify of
the Book of Mormon for our Generation

Throughout the Book of Mormon prophets continually testify
of the importance of the Book of Mormon and how important it is to our
generation today. One example is found in the Book of Enos.

As Enos journeyed into the wilderness the words that his
father spoke concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into
his heart and his soul hungered to know the truth. He then began to offer up
the desires of his heart to God. He prayed all the day long and when the night
came he still was found raising his voice high to the heavens.

The Lord spoke to Enos and forgave him of his sins.

When Enos heard this his faith became unshaken in the Lord
and he began to pray for the Lamanites and after diligently praying with all
his heart the Lord granted his desires.

This is the desire which Enos had for his brethren..

Enos says “… if it should so be, that my people, the
Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and
the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a
record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of his holy arm,
that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that,
perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation.”

Enos along with many other prophets, knew the significance
of the book. He knew that through this book men would be brought unto salvation
and if they followed the teachings given they would develop faith in Christ and
draw nearer to God.

Becoming Converted to
Christ through the Book of Mormon

Why is the Book of Mormon such a powerful tool in one’s
conversion to the gospel? As Joseph Smith once said “..the Book of Mormon [is]
the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a
man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other
book.”

The central purpose of this book is to testify that Jesus is
the Christ. It testifies of Christ by supporting His life, mission, and
power. Those who know little or nothing
about the Savior will come to know Him by reading, pondering, and praying about
the Book of Mormon. I have gained a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ as I
have read the Book of Mormon. I want to add my living witness of the
truthfulness that this book truly testifies that Jesus Christ is the Savior and
Redeemer of the world.

A Prophets Promise

President Gordon B. Hinckley has emphasized the need for
every Latter-day Saint to read and re-read the Book of Mormon. He gives a
wonderful promise to mankind when he gave this prophetic statement.

“Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will
read the Book of Mormon,… There will come into your lives and into your homes
an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk
in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living
reality of the Son of God.”

Brother and Sisters, every single soul in this room can
benefit from this prophetic statement given by Gordon B. Hinckley, but we must
take action. As we go about our daily lives do we strive to read this sacred text?
Do we take full advantage of the promise that has been given to us? We must not
neglect this book. No member of this Church can stand approved in the presence
of God who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon. This Book
can change your life. It will fortify you against the evils of our day and will
bring a spirituality into your life that no other book will. It will be the
most important book you ever read.

President James E. Faust related an experience that
demonstrates the converting power of the Book of Mormon:

“Sister Celia Cruz Ayala of the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission
decided to give the Book of Mormon to a friend. She wrapped it in attractive
paper and set out to deliver her present.

On the way she was attacked by a bandit who stole her purse
and with it the wrapped copy of the Book of Mormon. A few days later she
received this letter:

Mrs. Cruz:

Forgive me, forgive
me. You will never know how sorry I am for attacking you. But because of it, my
life has changed and will continue to change. That book [the Book of Mormon]
has helped me in my life. The dream of that man of God has shaken me. … I am
returning your five pesos for I can’t spend them. I want you to know that you
seemed to have a radiance about you. That light seemed to stop me [from harming
you, so] I ran away instead.

I want you to know
that you will see me again, but when you do, you won’t recognize me, for I will
be your brother. … Here, where I live, I have to find the Lord and go to the
church you belong to.

The message you
wrote in that book brought tears to my eyes. Since Wednesday night I have not
been able to stop reading it. I have prayed and asked God to forgive me, [and]
I ask you to forgive me. … I thought your wrapped gift was something I could
sell. [Instead,] it has made me want to make my life over. Forgive me, forgive
me, I beg you.

Your absent friend.

Such is the conversion power of the Book of Mormon.”

A Personal Conversion
Story

This was my first Book of Mormon. I received it around the
time I turned six. I found it very useful to write in, and by that I mean
drawing little pictures and practicing my spelling here on the bottom of the
first page. I loved to carry this Book around with me. I would try to open it
and read it many times but I could not understand it. I would just flip through
the pages and wonder what stories were held within this hardcover. Even though
I could not read I knew that this was no ordinary book. I knew that there was
something more and as a little child I had known that this book was special.

Little did I know that this small blue book would become the
most precious volume of literature I have ever read.

Throughout middle school and high school I would just read
snippets of the Book of Mormon, or look through the index and find a word that
would help me with what I was going through in the moment. If I felt lonely I
would look up comfort, if I felt scared I would look up hope. I would read a
chapter or two and would find happiness. But it would only last for a small
time. Throughout the years I have started the Book of Mormon many times without
the success of finishing. I would become discouraged at the fact that I didn’t
understand what was being taught, I was really slow, and it took a lot of time.

When I began my
senior year of high school one of my really good friends and I decided that we
would start the Book of Mormon and read it cover to cover. We began sometime in
September and would encourage each other a lot. It took me a long time to read
it but I persisted. Every night before bed I would pull out my Book of Mormon
and would read a chapter or two. As I did this, day by day, I could feel myself
changing. Everything in life seemed clearer, I was happier; I could feel the
spirit with me throughout the day, and I was gaining a testimony of the living
reality of the Son of God. I was growing
to love the Book of Mormon more and more. The stories were incredible! I was
sad when I would put it down because I just wanted to read more.

I am a very slow reader and it took me at least 8 months to
finish reading all the way through to the end. On March 14, 2012 I was driving
home from mutual and I just decided it was time for me to finish. I felt
prompted to go and drive to the temple and read. I was really excited because I
knew I was finally going to gain that rock solid testimony of my own. I was
going to have one of those stories where I prayed sincerely after reading that
promise by Moroni and I would gain an overwhelming feeling that this book was
true. I parked in front of the temple and focused on the book. When I finished
I began to pray. I closed my eyes and I asked Heavenly Father if it was true or
not and I didn’t feel anything. The answer came in its own time. The next night
I began writing in my journal. As I started to write about my experience I
instantly remembered who I was 8 months previous to this time. I had changed
and grown so much in that short period of time. I started to write down my
feelings of the Book of Mormon and what I learned. The spirit began to enter my
heart again and it testified to me that it was true. I always felt it was true
but now that I finished it and sincerely prayed about it with real intent and
having faith in Christ. I knew it was
true.

I exhort you, my brothers and sisters, to make it a priority
to study out of the Book of Mormon each and every day. Find a time of day where
you can sit down and focus on the scriptures and then study at that time every
day. Read carefully so that you understand what is being taught. Open up each
of your study sessions with a prayer to Heavenly Father so that you may receive
inspiration through the Holy Ghost. Write down a study plan and study for the
same amount of time each day. Keep a journal next to you so that you can write
down and remember the precious teachings you learn through the Holy Ghost.
Keeping a journal can help you organize your thoughts and I have learned that
as I write what I’m feeling things become clearer to me. Writing notes down
into a study journal is how I ponder of the scriptures; my journal is the
conduit for my thoughts. I learn what Heavenly Father is trying to teach me by
writing in my study journal as I study.

“If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want him to talk
to you, read your scriptures.”

My prayer is that each of you will leave here today with a
renewed conviction to read the Book of Mormon prayerfully and diligently. I
promise you that if you do, you will receive so much happiness. You will have
the added measure of the Spirit of the Lord in your lives and in your homes,
you will have a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience and follow His
commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.

I promise you that if you read this book again, with a
sincere heart and having real intent to follow its teachings, you can know with
surety that Jesus is the Christ and He came here to redeem the souls of all
mankind that they might dwell in the presence of God forever and ever.

I cannot wait to share this Book with the people of England.
It has truly changed my life and has been one of the biggest factors in making
me into who I am today. It has given me hope, peace, joy, and happiness and I
know it can do the same for those I teach in England and I know it can do the
same for you. I know that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that
it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith and I know that he is man who
truly fought for our religion. I am grateful for his example. I know that we
have a loving Father in Heaven. He loves each and every one of you so much. So
much that we can’t even begin to understand how deep his tender love is for us.
I know that because He loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for
us and to take upon Him our sins so that we may return to live in His presence
once more. I know that Jesus Christ loves us and that He lived a perfect life.
I know that the Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Jesus Christ and
teaches the true doctrines of the gospel right along side of the Bible. I know
that families can be together forever and I am so grateful for all of the
family I have here. I love them so much. I’m grateful for this wonderful ward that
I have had the privilege to grow up in. Thank you to everyone who has helped
shape me into the person who I am today. I know that I would not be who I am without
the wonderful priesthood leaders, teachers, scout leaders, primary teachers,
and others who are this ward. You have all blessed me so much. Thank you to my
friends who have pushed me to always me best in all situations of life. I am
grateful to have such good friends who share principles and ideals similar to
my own. You have all been examples of righteousness to me. I testify to you
that I know that this Book will change your life.